Reversing timer and distributer.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 190a.

30. 889,305. J. 0. HEINZB, JB'.

REVERSING TIMBR' AND'DISTRIBUTBR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1906.

B SHEETS-411E311. 1.

m Q, P mm; 0K. 5%

PATENTED JUNE 2, 19 08.

R E T U B I R M hm E D ZN mu m flwI .T G N I S R E V E R APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 30. 1906.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

J. 0. HEINZE, Jn. REVERSING TIMER AND DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1906.

JOHN OTTO HFIINZE, Jlt, OI," LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

REVERSING TIMER AND DISTRIBUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed November 30, 1906. Serial No. 346,661.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, John Orro Hnmzn, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residinget Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented. a certain new and useful Reversing Timer and Distributer, of which the following is a, specifiers tion, reference being lied. therein to the ec compnnying drawing.

My invention relates to apparatus which may be employed for timing the electric ignltions of explosive mixtures in whet are known as explosive engines.

()ne of the principal :ObjBClZS of my. invention is to eliminate the so called pitting of the contacts of the vibrating interrupters of induction coils. This pitting has been-one of the greatest defects resulting from the use "of the vibrating interrupter, for after the coil cylinder.

has been in operation for a number of hours,

the itting becomes so greet that the contacts of tie vibrator become actually fused together and cease vibrating; they thus do not interrupt the current in the primary wire; and'oonsequently, no currents are induced in the secondary wire for the purpose of causing a sport: to jump across the. spark gap in the plug and to fire the chargein the The pitting is entirely due to the direction of the current flowing between the cl es of metal on one cmilact are carried away from it and piled up upon the other contact. A hole is therefore formed in one contact and u tent of metal upon the other contact-ythe lentz beeoming more and more embedded in the hole, the longer the currentcontinues to How in one direction. Now ii" the current is one object of my invention, as above do.-

rlbe'd, is to keep these surfaces ilat. I

whereby the current flow-mg through the pr iu try wire of an induction coil and the XLbrar'thr, may be caused to llow in one direction, after one interruptiim, and in the opposite direction after the next interruptitm, and soon. As uTIresult, .the sparks at the park plug do not ver' in intensity, heat and frequency, and the using of thecontaots .uuplisl'i. this object by providing means and' the resulting pitting are eliminated. Therefore, resort has been had to a spark coil for each cylinder of the engine; further, resort has also been had to a spark coil combined with a (.listrlbuting device, whereby the high voltage current through the secondary, may be distributed to each of the The value of my invention willsnow become plain. By providing( the primary-cireuit o the vlbratmg spar coil, with a re versmg current tuner, endhence eliminating the objectionable pitting, the simpler ccmstruction, viz. that of a sin le vibrating spark coil, and a device to distri ute the high voltage current to several cylinders, becornes available for firing the chargesin the several cylinders.

The second obj ect of my invention is therefore to combine in one simple apparatus, a. reversing current timer, a single vibrating spark coil and a device for distributing a high potential current successively to spark plugs in one or more cylinders.

Fi ure 1 is n dicgraimnntic View showing all oi the electrical features of my invention; Fig. 2 shows in perspective the combined 13B- versin timerund distributer; Fig.3 is a rear view 0 the some Fig. 4 is a transverse central section partly in elevation; Fig. 5 is a rear plan; while Figs. 6 end 7 are respectively a plan and an elevation of one of the reversing current segments.

The drawings illustrate the prinri IQ of invention, and the best mode now own to me of making use oftliat principle, but nl But experience has shown that log consideration of the diarrammatieview hhown in Fig. 1, will greet v nid the reedier in understanding my invention, as embodied in the actualapperntus, shown; in theother figures, and later to be deseribed- A spark coil 1, Fig. 1 of ordinary construction may be employed. It has a. nm'gnetic core 2' u, )rimery windin r 3' vibrator con-' tects 4, 5; a condenser 6; and a secondary wim'lin 10,.one end of which is grounded, its.

at 1 l, w rile the otheris connected to edistriliuting a.r1n 20, fast to, but'iusulated from, u

nected to the cam shaft .21 of the engine, a 'lhc olectricni reversing current timer 5U.

circuit com'iecting the butt l 4n and the primary winding, 3 of the spalli coil, broken attwo places, the battery ends of the circuit having what may be called two i'iattcry tcrminals 51, 52; and. the primary winding ends having two rimar terminals 53, .54. The former terminals alternate with the latter, and any two adia-cent terminals are ninety degrees apart. wo reversing current segments 55, 56, are mourm-xd upon the cam shaft 21., and are so-formcd and disposed in relation to the said terminals, that while one reversing current segment 55 completes the circuit between one battery terminal 5 l and one primary terminal 53, the other reversing current segment 56 eomphrlce the circuit. between the other battery terminal 5'3, and the other primary terminal 54. The circuit being completed, the battery current Hows through the rimary winding 3 in one direction, as 1m icated by arrows in full lines. But as the cam shaft 2]. moves in the di'rcc tion indicated. by the centrally disposed arrow, each reversing segment breaks c.|.n'itact with one ofits respective prinnl-ry terminals, and the circuit through 'the primary is broken. In the meanwhile, the core 2 has been magnetized by the current flowing through the irimary winding in the direction indicated by the solid arrows, the hammet 4 has been attracted by the core .2, and

-moved away from the anvil 5, the primary circuit broken, and a spark lormcd the hammer and-anvil, 1 e. between the conmi 'ween tacts of thevibm'to'r. 'lhis inlill'lll ilhnl of the current han been' repeated m Sllcccsslml,

during. that period of time, the primary circuit is comp ct'ed. through the rcvcrsing segments 55., 56; all helm done 1th the result,

.th -t Particles of .mctal harc moved from the hammer to the anvil until the primnr curtent was broken by the reversing Segments moving out of contact with one of their r spective tcrmirmls. As the cam shaft 2! continucsits moveuu-nt in thcdircctiou iudicated by the arrcwa-t the center, cuch scguu-ut.

remains in contact with its battery Icrmimd I until after it contacts the primary!crminnl oppositc to that which-it just left, and in this inanner,.;eiu'hoi the battery terminals be comeconnected iii kill! other tcrluiil'nl hi" the ,hrior lateral ribs (H thereon, is central 'iug the'case on to the same.

v bearing M IS the shouldered Journal 6.2. lhe W.

primary winding. Such. being the case, an cnerg-izii'ig current ilows in the direction. indicated by the dotted arrows, from battery 40, through the seguuuit 55, the n'imary winding 3, segment 56, and back to battery. While the circuit is complete the intcrru tions, between the hammer and anvil, ta 0 place, as before, but the current, flowing in anv opposite direction, causes these articles oi metal which were piled up upon t to anvil to be thrown back upon the hammer, and the surfaces oi the contacts to assume their normal conditions. As all the currents flowing through thc primm'y are identical except that for equal periods of' time, currents flowing in one direction, alternate with those flowing in an opposite direction, the result follows that. particles tcmling-tofin'm a tent while the current iiows in one direction, are restored from whence they came by the cur-- rent. [lowing in an opposite direction, and the surfaces ol' the hammer and anvil tend. to remnin smooth.

The distributing arm 20, and the distributing terminals 22. 23;, 24, 2."), forming part oi the secondary circuit, arc arranged so that while currents are [lowing through the pri mary. the dist ributing arm is in cmitact with some one of the distributing terminals; and hence high potential current: are induced in 95 the sccondnrv winding, and [low from "round I1. through the said winding Hi, distributing arm 2U, n distributing terminal. as 22, one ol" the several spark ph'lgs, us- 3-(5, and across spark gap (51 to ground, not shown. but assumcd to be the cylinder of the engine. As the \illlnt-or is working always under conditions which. except the direction of the primary current, are. the same, the. resulting currents induced in the secondary, and hence the sparks at thespark gaps at. the spark tings, arc correspondingly similar, mrticulnrly as to-hcat, intensity and frequency.

Having explained the diagrammatic representation of my invention, as applied to the ex )lnSlHH chamber of a gnsolenc engine, I wil now dcscribc the construction of an :u'luai apparatus embodying thc'combined'; reversing timer and distribute]:

I provide a circular case 6!) ol'iibrous ma,-' l'crial, which in any slliiillllflmanner, may be molded into the dcsil'cdiolln llhblltSOlllBiQf the ports hcrcimdtcr n'icntioncd. The case may be u )|H)l'il(l b lllcnlis oi' c \'e-'piece'61" 1,20 lixcd int \c buck ol'lhc case. (cntra-lly mounted through the botionioi thccns'e, is ahollow journal Ii. which may be opcl'ativcly councclcd. as (othe cam shaft 2], of n gasolcne engine. A long bcaring tili Ila-vim ex- RS cmcd to thecasc by thecngngcment o the latter withhhe Filmi, brought aboutliv mold- Within the latter is adapted .to receive longitudinally the cam shaft 21, to which the journal may be removably secured, as by screws. To assist in reventing the withdrawal of the shouldered journal, a .screw 66 is through a hole in the inner end of sair journal, and has alonigtudinal axis, that ofthe journal. Mounte upon the free end portion of this screwis a block 67 having thereon arectangular hollow case of in'sulating material 68 .upon which are mounted in turn, a. metal ring 69 contacting the end of the long bearing 63; next, a ring of fibrousmaterial 70; next, one

of the metal reversing segments. 55; next, a '15 piece of insulating material 71 and next, the second'metal reversing segment 56. Adj acent to this latter segment is a piece of insulation 72.

A metallic distributing arm is made fast to one end of an insulating extension piece 20 73, adapted to be secured to the shaft 62;

the other endpf this, 'ece has therein a hole with which said rectangular block 67 is in enga ement. This piece has also a nut 74, fixed y molded into'the bottom of said hole, and "adapted to be engaged by the thread of .said screw 66. It will now be plain, that by screwing the threaded portion of the screw 66 into the nut 74, the extension piece is caused to force the rings and segments on the block close together, and bind them securely by compressing the fibrous block and expanding it into locking engagement with said rings and segments.

A shoulder7 5, parallel with the bottom of .the' case and. at right angles witlrthc longitudinal axis of the shaft, is molded upon the inside of the case, to sustain the battery terminals 51, 52, and the primary terminals-53, 54, to which are lead, through suitable in 40 sulated metallic lugs 76, 77, 78, 79, molded 4 into the 'case, battery wires and primary llS shoulder 75 is such 7 wires. The lane oft that-when t, c. said terminals are mounted thereon, .the arms 80, 81, of-one reversing .45 ,eurrent segment may contact one sideof the terminals,'and the hke arms of the other reversing current segment 56 may contact the other side of-said terminals.

Upon what me be termed the topof the 50 case, are mounte the high voltage dlstributin terminals 22, 23, 24, 25, from which are le through suitable insulated metallic lugs 82, 83, 84, 85, molded into the case, distributing wires 86, 87, 88, 89, to be connected, say

56 with sparking apparatus. These distributlng terminals'lie 1n the plane of'the movement of the distributing arm 20 for the pur I pose of being engaged by it, in its rotation with the shaft. There is molded into the 60 case also a fifth insulated metallic lug 90, through which leads a high voltage wire 91 from the secondary ofthe induction coil, to

} astationary connectin arm 92, for connecting the high voltage wire with the distributmg arm, by frictional engagement. A cover assed case being shown in Fig. 2.

The contacting surfaces between distribut ing arm and at terminals, and between the reversing segments and their terminals, may be of any suitable form. That of the reversing segments shown in the drawings, par- -ticular y in Figs. 6 and 7, is simple and eiii- 8O cient. The segment is struck up out of the metal, and may be said to consist of a central portion 96 having a square hole out therein,

and two wing portions 97, 98, integral with the central portion, and having two contact arms 80, 81, ninety degrees apart and depending one from each wing. It will be I noticed that one reversing segment is located 180 degrees ahead of the other segment; that the contact armsof one segment engage only oneside of the terminals, while the contact arms of the other'segment enga e the opposite side of said terminals; and that the contact arms of eacli segment, which are ninety degrees apart, simultaneously engage twoss terminals'm' one terminal, thereby conipletmg the primary circuit, in one-direction;

' breaking the said circuit; and then complet mg the circuit in anopposite direction.

l have now shown 10W I-accomphsh the a second object of my invention, namely, a reversmgtimerand distributer, conveniently simple, and efilciently combined in one piece of mechanism.

. What I claim is:-

1.. An, indur'gtion. coil used in with a gas engine, and having a core of mag- "netic material; a primary winding thereon a I vibrator connected to said primary winding 1? to interrupt an electrical current througlrllo said primary winding; a battery; two bat-fi tery terminals connected to said battery; two primary terminals connected-with said primarywinding; the batteryterminals and the ministry terminals, in arrangement, being alternate two reversing current .:seg" me-nts mounted upon a shaft, driven by said engine, whcreby each of the battery terniinals may be connccted'to one of the two primary terminals, and then to the other of said primary terminals; all designedior thepurpose of causing the regular automatic reverse ol" the several connections and the di-- rcction of the current through the primary winding to prevent the formation of a teat and a )it in the contacts of the vibrator, through hich the primary current passes. 2, An' induction coil used in connection with a gas engine, and having a core of magetic material a primary winding thereon 'a 5 15 connectionfso - terminals; a secondary winding, wound about f lo whereby each of the battery terminals may with a gas engine, and having a core of mag- 45 winding; the battery terminals, and the prinnn y terminals, in arrangement being altern'ate two reversing current segments mounted upon a shalt,. driven by said engine, wherel. v each of the battery tern'iinals may be eonneetr-al to one of the. two primary terminals, and then to the other of said primary terminals; :1 seeomlary winding wound about said core and said primary winding; all designed for the purpose of inducing in the secondary winding high voltage currents having the same frequency and intel'isity therein.

3. An induction coil used in. connection with a gas engine, and having a core of magnetic material; a primary winding thereon; a vibrator connected to said primary winding to interrupt an electrical current through said primary winding; :1. battery; two battery terminals connectial to said battery; two primary terminals connected with said primary winding; the battery terminals, and the primary terminals, in arrangement, being alternate. two reversing current segments mounted upon a shaft, driven by said engine,

mary terminals connected with saidprinutry i I be connected to one of the two primary ternnnals, and then to the other of said primary.

said core and said primary winding, and grounded; a sparkmg device which 1s groumled; and means whereby the secondary winding may be connected to the lnsulated metallic portion. of the sparking device, where-by there maybe formed at the spark ga) of said sparking device, sparks having su )stantially the same heat, intensity and frequency. 4

4. An induction coil used in connection nctic materia a primary winding thereon; a vibrator connected to said primary winding to interrupt an electrical current through said primary winding; a battery; two batter terminals connected. to said battery; two

the distributing arm prii mary tcrn'iinals connected with said primary winding in arrangement the battery, ,tcr,

minals, alternating with the primary terminals; two reversing current segments mounted u on a shaft, driven by said angine, \VllO-IGIJY each of the battery terminals maybe connected to one of the two primary terminals and then with the other of said primary terminals;

winding, and groumilcd; a series of grounded sparking devices; a series of distributingterminals each of which is electrically connected with the insulated metallic portion of its res )ect-ive. sparking device,- a distributing arm electrically connected to said secondary winding; means whereby said distributing arm is operatively connected to said shaft operating the reversing current segments; said distributing tcrn'iinals being arranged in their relation tothe distributing arm, so that the distributing arm successively engages the distributing terminals when the battery current is flowing through the primary winding. 5. A shaft of a gas engine, mounted in a casing; reversing segments nniunted on said shaft and insulated therefrom; a distributin arm mounted upon. said shaft and insulate therefrom; battery terminals and rimary terminals, alternately arranged wit iin said case, and insulated therefrom, and adapted to be engaged by said reversing current so ments; distributing terminals mounted n said ease, insulated therefrom, and desi ned to be successivel y engaged by said distributmg arm; a high voltage terminal mounted in said case and insulated therefrom,- and a con necting arm, whereby, electrical connection may be made between said high voltage terminal and'said distributing arm said-distributing segments, the battery terminals, and the )rirnary terminals, all being so arranged tiat an electrical current may flow through the primary terminals inone directron, and th en 1n an opposite direction, while 1s in contact with any one of the distributing terminals.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN OTTO HEINZE, JR. Witnesses: E. .F. UNIAC,

FQ'J. V 'D/urw.

a secondary winding wound about said core and said primary 

